Mat



1937. P. s. SCHILDKNECHT 2,067,418

MAT

Filed Feb. 19, 1936 I I INVENTOR. Z7" 29" Paul J. childknechf ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 12, 1937 STATES PATENT MAT Application February 19, 1936, Serial No. 64,661

4 Claims.

Myinvention relates to mats, and more particularly to mats composed of series of articulated members.

Such mats usually comprise wires that pass through openings in adjacent elements. It is an object of my invention to provide simple, effective means for enveloping and locking abutting ends of such Wires.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a locking means in an integral construction that may be stamped out of a single sheet of metal.

A further object is to provide such a locking means that will not work loose and which will not allow the ends of said wires to escape.

A still further object is to combine a binding plate and a ferrule for such purpose, into an integral construction.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a broken plan of a mat containing an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figure 2, but showing modified constructions of my invention.

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, prior to the clamping of same around the aforementioned abutting wire ends.

Figure '7 is an end elevation of the embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the reference numeral l refers generally to the mat, which comprises series of elements 8. The conventional construction of the elements is that they are composed of laminations of rubberized fabric vulcanized together. as suggested in Figure 3. The edges of the elements 8 are presented at the top and bottom of the mat. Fillers 9 are employed between the elements at the ends of the mat in order to space the elements apart, which, as shown in the drawing, are placed in staggered arrangement in the mat.

The elements 8 and fillers 9 have alined openings I6 adjacent the ends of the elements. Wires bind the elements 8 and fillers 9 together into an articulate mat.

The wires consist of (0.) legs I2 that are passed through the openings In in the elements and in the fillers of the mat, (1)) cross members l3 that lie along elements at an edge of the mat, and (c) substantially abutting ends l4 and I5 5 that are bent down upon elements at the opposite edge of the mat.

The clip shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 6 has been generally designated by the reference character Hi. This clip before being bent is oblong, 10 as indicated by the broken lines Ends l8 of the clip l6 are curved, although, of course, other shapes may be employed. Eyes l9 are punched out approximately at the center of the curved ends IS. The eyes l9, when the clips are assembled on the elements 8, are alined with the openings ID of the elements.

Said clip is preferably not flat after being stamped out (the broken lines ll merely suggest a flattened contour of the clip body). Edges I! of the clip in manufacture are preferably bent at right angles, forming flanges which provide a channel 20, shown in Figure 6.

Clips 22 and 23, shown respectively in Figures 4 and 5, are shown with round heads 2|. The 25 flattened contour of clip 22 is indicated by the broken lines 24. The preferred form of clip 22, prior to its being applied to a mat, is shown in end elevation in Figure 7. Flanges 25 are bent substantially at right angles to the heads 2|, to form a channel 26 between the flanges.

The body of clip 23 is divided into sections 21,

28 and 29. Middle section 28 remains flat and may be utilized for a trade-mark, or the like. Sections 21 and 29 if flattened would appear in plan as shown in Figure 5. Edge portions of the sections 21 and 29 are preferably bent substantially at right angles to the heads 2| and middle section 28, to form a channel. An end elevation of clip 23 would appear the same as Figure 7.

In the use of my invention, ends I 4 and I5 of the fastening wire are passed through the eyes IQ of my clip. The ends are then bent down into channel 20 (or 26). The side walls or flanges forming the channel are then bent together around the ends of the wire, in the manner shown in Figures 2 to 5. A ferrule 30 is thereby formed around the wire ends.

In the modification shown in Figure 4, the flanges 25 are clipped away adjacent the heads, as shown at 3|, instead of using a roll, as at 32 in Figure 2.

In Figure 5, the sections 2'! and 29 are not only clipped away adjacent the heads 2|, but are also clipped away adjacent the middle section, as suggested at 33. In this figure, the ends of the wire Ida and We have been shortened, whereby not to conceal matter appearing on the section 28.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore do not wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications which may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a mat comprising a series of separate elements having alined openings, a wire passed through said openings and binding the elements in articulate relation, ends of the wire being exposed at an edge of the mat, and a clip having spaced pairs of flanges, having a plate between said pairs of flanges, and having apertured heads projecting in opposite directions from the flanged portions, the wire being passed through said apertures in the heads and the ends of the wire being respectively gripped at opposite ends of the plate by the respective pairs of flanges.

2. A clip for binding a mat of the class referred to herein, comprising a member having flanges forming a channel, the channel being open at the top for the reception of a wire to bind the mat, apertured head members integral with and projecting endwise from the channeled member, the apertures of the head members receiving the wires disposed in the channels, the head members being uncovered to receive a wire of any length, and the flanges being bendable around a wire in the channel, to provide an enclosure for holding same.

3. A clip for binding a mat of the class referred to herein, comprising a body member having its edges bent around a portion of a wire used in binding the mat, the body having apertured heads integral with and projecting endwise from opposite ends of the body, the apertures of the heads being uncovered for free access to the apertures thereof, and the bent portions of the edges being between the apertures of the heads.

4. A clip for binding a mat of the class referred to herein, comprising a member having a onepiece, continuous back member, the end portions of the back member being apertured for the reception of a wire used in binding the mat, the member providing an open-top channel for receiving the said wire, and the edges of said member being bendable around the wire for holding same in place.

PAUL S. SCHILDKNECHT. 

